wayward home for expecting ducks

Just about 48 hours after Mrs. Quackers vacated our dock side tomato plant with her ducklings, we were shocked to see another mystery egg sitting in our tomato plant. And then the next day another. And another. But no duck.

Until a certain little boy made a point of getting up early enough to spy and see a new mama duck sitting in our plant again early one morning.

He decided to name her Shadow because she spent the first 2 weeks or so hiding from and avoiding us at all costs. But eventually she settled down and stuck to the nest. We were laughing, imagining a "Vacancy" sign being hung on our finger pier once Mrs. Quackers left. Like she spread the news to the other expecting mamas about this great little place to lay eggs.

Shadow has had a rough go of it with the heat wave and all. She often heaves a sigh (yeah, the duck actually sighs!) and flops her head down like a tired dog. She takes more swims away from the nest than our last tenant, which gives Zach egg counting and sketching opportunities.

And since the heat has taken its toll on our tomato plants, she doesn't have the rich green canopy that Mrs. Quackers enjoyed. I look at her flopped out on her nest, waiting in the heat, and I feel for her. I get it. Soon enough, girlfriend, I tell her. And she looks at me, and I think she gets it too.